[Wesleyan University]

Life Changes

       
           
In general, mid-year changes are allowed only when certain events happen to you. These are a selection of events (called “Life Status Events) that affect who can and should be enrolled in health benefits. These events all take place on specific dates (for example, a date of marriage, birth, death, divorce, loss of other coverage, and so on). Changes adding or removing participants must take effect on the day of the event. You must apply to make the change no later than 30 days after the event. You must enclose documentation of the event, and the documentation must show the date of the event.
           
Life Status Events
  FTE Changes
  Marriage/Divorce/Domestic Partnership
  Child Birth, Adoption
  Loss Dependent Status
  Loss of Coverage
  Retirement
  Termination of Employment
           
           
           
           
FTE Change
  If a work schedule change causes your Full-Time Equivalency (FTE) to rise above or drop below .75, eligibility for the following benefits will be effected:
    • Medical Insurance
    • Dental Insurance
    • Short-Term/Long-Term Disability
           
  If a work schedule change causes your Full-Time Equivalency (FTE) to rise above or drop below .50, eligibility for the following benefits will be effected:
    • Retirement Savings Benefits (Employer Contribution)
    • Pre-Tax Flexible Spending Accounts
    • Paid Time Off (Vacation/Sick Time)
    • Life Insurance (Employee and Dependents)
           
           
           
           
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Marriage/Divorce/Domestic Partnership
   
  Changes due to a change in marital status are effective the date of the event.  The following benefits should be considered:
    • Medical and Dental Insurance (add or remove eligible dependents)
    • Spousal/Domestic Partner Life Insurance (add or remove)
       
  Other things to consider:
    • Name Change - Present Human Resources with new Social Security Card reflecting the change
    • Updating Beneficiaries on Life and Retirement Benefits
    • Marriage Leave
    • Medical Expense Reimbursement Plan
           
           
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Child Birth or Adoption
  Changes due to adding a child to the family occur as of the date of birth or adoption.  The following benefits should be considered:
    • Short-Term Disability (for child birth)
    • Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
    • Medical and Dental Insurance (adding the child to coverage)
    • Child Life Insurance
   
  Other things to consider:
    • Beneficiary Elections
    • Parental Leave
    • Dependent Care Assistance Plan
    • Medical Expense Reimbursement Plan
           
           
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Loss of Dependent Status
  Dependent Children are allowed to stay on Wesleyan's health plans until the last day of the month in which they turn age 26. 
           
           
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Loss of Coverage
  If an employee and/or employee's dependents lose coverage due to loss of coverage through a spouse's employer or has a significant change in coverage, they may sign on to Wesleyan's health plans as of the date the coverage was lost. 
           
           
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Retirement
  Early Retirement - Faculty
    Tenured faculty members who retire on or after the July 1 in the calendar year in which the faculty member reaches age 59 and before June 30 following age 68, and who have at least 10 years of continuous eligible service, are eligible to participate in the Early Retirement Plan for Tenured Faculty members. These faculty members, and other faculty members who retire on or after age 55 and whose number of years of service and age total at least 75, may continue to participate in health, dental, and life insurance plans until June 30 following age 68 on the same basis as active faculty.
           
  Early Retirement - Staff
    Administrative staff and professional librarians who retire on or after age 55 and whose number of years of service and age total at least 75 may continue to participate in health, dental, and life insurance plans until age 65 on the same basis as active staff.
           
    In addition, administrative staff and professional librarians who were hired prior to July 1, 2001 and who retire between ages 60 and the 65 with at least 10 years of continuous eligible service may also continue to participate in health, dental, and life insurance plans until age 65 on the same basis as active staff even though their number of years of service and age do not total 75.
           
           
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Termination of Employment
  Benefits coverage will end as the following dates:
    • Date of Termination - Life Insurance Benefits, Disability Benefits, Flexible Spending Accounts, Paid Time Off
    • Date of Last Check - Health Insurance (Medical, Dental), Retirement Contributions
           
           
  Benefits Continuation
    Employees can extend their Health Coverage through the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) for up to 18 months*.  For more information please see the US Department of Labor's website.
           
    Employees will have the option of converting their life insurance upon termination of employment.  To convert life insurance, the individual must, within 31 days of the date group coverage terminates, make written application to the insurer and pay the premium required for their age and class of risk.  Please see the Portability and Conversion Privilege sections of the Plan Document.
           
           
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* COBRA coverage can extend past 18 months for qualifying reasons, see here.